This is the incredible moment a hammer-wielding moped thief was fought off by a hero manager and customers in a London Tapas restaurant.

The attack was captured on CCTV as the thug, wearing a helmet, tried to steal a laptop off the counter at Bar Esteban in Park Road, Crouch End, north London.

Dramatic footage shows him storm in on Tuesday night and snatch manager Gessica Lastrucci's computer as she worked on it at the bar.

It is the latest example of an alarming new trend that sees moped-riding criminals rush into businesses and steal from staff and customers.

On October 17, a raid on the Bread and Bean Cafe in Archway, north London was recorded when a brazen thief rushed in and grabbed a laptop while a victim worked on it.

In the latest tapas restaurant robbery, the manager's laptop had a security cable attaching it to the counter and the manager Ms Lastrucci, was filmed grabbing the wire and pulling her device back towards her.

The stunned thief dropped his hammer in the scuffle and left but he returned seconds later looking for his weapon on the floor.

But customers saw him return and quickly grabbed bar stools which they confronted him with.

One man chased him out, pushing the metal stool legs at him which forced him to flee.

The intruder had an accomplice who was not seen on the video clip.

About 25 customers were in the restaurant during the attack.

Police have warned people in the capital to be vigilant and to protect their belongings at all times as mopeds are increasingly used as the vehicle of choice for criminals.

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Islington police have promised to erect signs warning of moped crime in north London where moped gangs are particularly active.

More than 8,000 offences were carried out by criminals on mopeds in London last year. The figure is 16 times higher than it was five years ago.

The Metropolitan Police have employed new tactics in a bid to quell this new, mobile crime scourge.

Four specialist BMW scrambler bikes are used by the force to pursue moped riders down alleyways and where conventional police vehicles cannot easily access.

The brazen thief burst into the restaurant and grabbed a laptop while the manager was working on it in the venue in north London

He ran towards the door holding the computer while staff and customers looked on in shock

And Scotland Yard said it now uses DNA sprays on suspects, who cannot be chased for safety reasons, which can be picked up under UV light if they are arrested, and which can link suspects to moped crimes committed weeks earlier.

Mobile stinger devices are also being used to deflate tyres on public roads.

Met Commissioner Cressida Dick has urged communities to 'mobilise' and 'channel their outrage' against the moped thugs to make the streets safer.